Amelie looked out at the battle and asked the question that had occurred to her: "Why are we fighting this mortal-level war at all? We could besiege the Imperial Capital directly."
Lysandra answered without hesitation, "Because our mortal army needs this war. The empire has a large number of Angels and top-level troops who haven't yet ascended to Godhood. They need these kills. They need this battle to ascend. When enough of them become Gods, then we attack the Imperial Capital and destroy the Light Empire's True Gods. Only by reaching that tier can they fight on the Divine War's battlefield against the Dimensional Demons."
Amelie was quiet for a moment. The Light Empire was a training ground. The stubborn resistance of its defenders was a resource. She filed this away.
Then a Sixteen-Winged Angel appeared in the hall. It was Caelith, the Angel of Fate, a Peak High Goddess, carrying the Law of Fate that allowed her to glimpse fragments of the future.
"Lady Lysandra." She said, "I've seen a corner of what's coming. In the near future, we are very likely to go to war with the Dark Empire's army."
Lysandra frowned. It was not disbelief, Caelith's foresight was real, but puzzlement. The Dark Empire had no covenant with the Great Aetherium, but they had been cooperating. There was no obvious trigger for conflict.
…
High within the Astral City, the atmosphere was more celebratory than martial. Leaders of the large alliances, like the Sisterhood Collective and Ranger Alliance, stood gathered. These were individuals who had ascended to Godhood in less than two months, a feat that local legends would call impossible.
Yet, as they looked down at the Nivara River, they weren't thinking of legends. They were thinking of 'exp'.
The Light Empire's defense line was crumbling. In this world, the weak were simply fodder for the strong. If the defenders didn't die by the sword today, they would fall to the Dimensional Demons tomorrow. It was better for the Endless Continent for these guys to contribute their lives, or their loyalty, to the Castle Faction now.
A peculiar phenomenon had emerged during this campaign. Usually, war depletes an army. But the Great Aetherium's forces had swelled from 200 million to over 800 million.
The secret lay in the Scepter of Sovereignty. While other Castle Lords viewed prisoners as a liability, prone to low loyalty and backstabbing, Haru's Divine Artifact forcibly locked a prisoner's loyalty at a perfect 100 points.
To the defenders of the Light Empire, surrendering to the Great Aetherium wasn't just a way to survive; it was a promotion. They went from serving a collapsing regime to following a Peak Space-Time Lord whose power eclipsed their previous Emperor's.
"I didn't expect the Dark Empire to join the fray now." One castle lord remarked with a grin, "They're looking for death by trying to steal from the Great Aetherium."
"They're taking advantage of the fire." Another added, "They've been feuding with the Light Empire for hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions of years. They want to give their old rivals a final shove into the grave."
"Lady Lysandra." A Ranger turned to the Eighteen-Winged General of the Imperial Army, "Does His Majesty know of the Dark Empire's interference?"
"Of course." Lysandra replied, his expression unreadable, "They sent messengers seeking cooperation. We have a 'conspiracy' of sorts, but the relationship is unstable. If they dare to turn their blades toward us, the Angels will purify them without hesitation."
The message was understood: the Dark Empire only moved because Haru allowed it.
…
Diane Hayes, ruler of the Aelith Kingdom, stepped forward, her God Tier Unicorn shifting restlessly beside her, "Lady Lysandra, will His Majesty participate in the siege of the Imperial Capital?"
"My Lord is busy." Lysandra said dismissively, "He will not participate."
A ripple of disappointment washed over the gathered leaders, followed quickly by a wave of envy. While they had to risk their lives on the front lines to ensure their legions weren't wiped out, Haru sat in his capital, training, while his subordinates conquered an entire native empire.
With Supreme Goddesses like Lysandra and the recently arrived Aurora Goddess Amelie on the battlefield, Haru didn't need to be present. The Light Empire simply wasn't worth his time.
"Return to your bases." Lysandra commanded, "Once the river line falls, we push into the core territory. The Great Aetherium will not interfere with your spoils, but remember, the Divine War is coming. Strength is the only currency that can save you."
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